Sophie and Mariah are identical twins, on the outside they are a mirror of each other but on the inside, they are night and day. Mariah is the romantic, the artist, the softer one, thinking with her emotions. Sophia the logical one , the inventor, less trusting, more of a leader than a follower. Both are kind, caring and talented. Both have been treated as if they were noting, unwanted and unloved. Orphaned at childbirth, sent way from their foster parents after the birth of their own child, to live with strangers who only viewed them as unpaid help.

Sophie, always being the practical and more forward of the two takes the steps to insure both her and Mariah never again have to live dependent on others. She asks their mothers sister for help. Hoping to go to London and see the Great Exhibition.To become an apprentice. To secure their future. But things don't go as she hoped, her plan now requires them both to be one person, Sophie.

As "Sophie" experiences a season in London with their aunt who is only willing to help one of her nieces find a husband, they both begin to live as one. In doing so they have to be very careful to not be seen. To remember who they have met, and have talked about. Finding a husband was never part of Sophie's original idea, but when two young men both seem to care for "her", it isn't good for one of them when she get's the same feelings in return. How does "one" person go about living as two people and not have anyone notice? Will they be found out? Will they ever find the happiness they have lacked all their lives?

Through all the swaps, hiding and acting like one person they both come to discover more about who they are as individuals.

I found The Invention of Sophie Carter to be heartbreaking right from the very beginning. The story it's self is a light and quick read but still heavy with it's themes. We have two young girls who whether they admit it or not are deeply in need of love and affection. To always feel unwanted and burden hit home. Because I could relate to some of the hurt and feelings of these characters it helped placing myself in the story.

But despite the sadness there were many enjoyable times and I truly did like this story and many of the characters. Samantha Hastings did a wonderful job in the creation of her cast, even if I didn't like some of the people, that just means she her job well.


My copy was uncorrected proof so that being said it did have some errors in the text, an name typo and scene cutting which I'm sure will be fixed in the final printing.

“Perfect for fans of Jane Austen, Hastings The Invention of Sophie Carter will have you smiling from ear to ear.”

Review: The Invention of Sophie Carter
My bookish kryptonite: period pieces and Victorian romance.

I devour period pieces like a favored desert given in endless abundance.

It’s one of those genres that has a familiar writing style like that knowing feeling when you’re coming home. The unattainable suitor. The poverty stricken girl. A chance at getting a husband. A season of gaudy balls and endless shopping. The chase of finding true love. It may be formulaic, but there is always the opportunity for a new twist in obtaining a well deserved ending. And Hasting delivers on all fronts.

Sophie and Mariah Carter may be identical twins, but they are nothing alike. They reminded me of Greta Gerwig’s adaptation of Little Women. Sophie is like the fierce and strong-headed and strong-willed Joe March. Bold in all she does. While Mariah was a nice mix between the more emotional, quiet, and beauty of Amy, Beth, and Meg March.

But I absolutely loved the fierceness of Sophie. Her wild feminism. How she embraced her ambition to be an inventor even when most men around her refuse to acknowledge her value and worth. She was the brilliant strokes of this narrative making it a more rich and compelling read.

The wholesome plot, the sweet romance, the ostentatious high society and its season of gossip and balls painted on the historical backdrop of Victorian era London singly put delightful.

The Invention of Sophie Carter is a fresh narrative. Steeped in the tenacious bonds of sisterhood and the strength to pave your own way while discovering what it means to be loved.

Happy Reading ̴ Cece

I not only won this book in a giveaway, but I am participating in the Xpresso Book Tour.

I loved the plot of the story before even reading the book. It's 1851, and a pair of orphaned identical twin girls (inventor Sophie and artist Mariah) go for a season to stay with their estranged Aunt. The catch is she will only house one of them. But the girls chance it and both go, both pretending to be Sophie. They both discover their passions through the course of the story, and also find love with two different men.

Even though they looked identical, the girls were vastly different from the other. Sophie felt like a modern woman, ahead of her time. Mariah felt slightly timid, but loved painting and reading books written by female authors.

I found myself enjoying the side characters, especially Ethan (one of the male leads). I loved when he met the other sister that he did NOT fall for and... (whoops, no spoilers. Just trust me on this. It was a good part). I liked Mrs. Spooner and found myself disliking some of the bad (in personality) characters right along with Sophie.

This is truly a wonderful Victorian (I think that's the era) English romance. I am glad I got to read this book.

5/5

Another excellent historical fiction story by author Samantha Hastings. Love the story of these two sisters, identical in appearance but so very different in personality and interest, posing as the same girl so they can take advantage of their aunt's invitation to bring *one* sister into her London home--and both benefit from all the big city has to offer. One sister is a painter, the other a clock-maker and inventor. Add two very different love interests, a fun cast of secondary characters, and you have the makings of a delightful comedy of errors. A spirited summer read, especially for fans of sister stories!

Identical twins Sophie and Mariah Carter were orphaned directly after their birth and taken in by the Captain and wife of their father's navy ship, the Trenton's. Soon after they were taken in, Mrs. Trenton has a child of her own and Sophie and Mariah are sent away once again to the Ellis' who own a clock shop. Sophie and Mariah must work tirelessly for their keep; however, Sophie learns about clock repair from Mr. Ellis and dreams of being an inventor while Mariah takes care of the Ellis' children. Approaching adulthood, the sister's know they must find a place outside of the Ellis' home. Sophie writes to their one remaining relative, Aunt Sophrinoa Bentley in London hoping that she will take them in. Their Aunt agrees to take in only Sophie and only for one season in order to find Sophie a husband. Sophie and Mariah can't imagine splitting up, so they simply set off to London together planning on both acting the part of Sophie with only one of them appearing at a time. Their plan works and Sophie is able to see the 1851 Queen's Great Exhibition along with Ethan Miller whose watch Sophie fixed up in the park. Meanwhile, Mariah spends most of her day in the house with Aunt Bentley and her ward Charles where she discovers her passion for female authors and painting. Each man believes they are dating the real Sophie Carter as the twins learn they are not as similar as they thought.

The Invention of Sophie Carter is a sweet Victorian Romance for Young Adult and New Adult readers. I fell immediately for both Sophie and Mariah's characters as they were unwanted by one family and then another but still found hope, strength and fortitude in one another. I did find their scheme at their Aunt's house far fetched and was amazed that they were able to sustain the charade; it did make for a very fun and suspenseful plot. Sophie and Mariah were very opposite in personality and I loved Sophie's need for knowledge and adventure as well as Mariah's quiet discipline although Sophie's pluck seemed a little out of place for the time period at points. The romances were equally as swoon worthy with both Ethan and Charles being perfect matches for Sophie and Mariah's personalities. I also enjoyed reading about the Great Exhibition and seeing it through Sophie's eyes as well as some Pre-Raphaelite artists through Mariah's training. Most of all, it was interesting to see the twins begin to realize just who they are as people and that they are very different, but can still support each other's passions. Overall, an endearing and engaging Victorian Romance.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

What a lovely read! This book is a third person, dual POV tale about twin sisters, both about 18-years-old. Sophie, the titular character, speaks her mind and knows what she wants - to be an inventor. Mariah, her twin, is soft-spoken and emotional. She loves easily, and her passion is art. Sophie wants nothing more than to see the Great Exhibition in London that year, so she writes to their estranged wealthy aunt, Lady Bentley. Lady Bentley says she can take in one twin only, with the intent that she helps the twin (Sophie) find a suitable husband over the course of the season. Sophie does not want to leave Mariah behind in poverty, and has no intent to marry, so she hatches a plan for both sisters to visit London. Both claim to be Sophie Carter, and ensure that neither is seen in the room at the same time.

The two have strong ambitions, despite the limits the world of 1851 put on women. This is especially true for Sophie, who immediately starts looking for an apprenticeship once she gets to London. She wants to make money to support herself and her sister. Sophie also encourages Mariah to pursue her dream career as an artist. Sophie also meets a young man who takes a mutual interest to her, Ethan.

Meanwhile, Mariah spends most of her time with Lady Bentley, pretending to be Sophie. Her passion for art is explored when the twins meet their artistic neighbors, and she begins to forge her career there. But the exciting part of Mariah's story for me was her romance with Charles, the new Lord Bentley. He is a relation of their aunt's late husband. Charles has the opportunity to meet both twins, though he doesn't know about their scheme, so he thinks they are the same person. It is so painful but entertaining to watch him interact with Sophie, who cannot stand him and has feelings for his cousin, Ethan, and then with Mariah, who is falling mutually in love with him.

The sisters keep up their scheme remarkably long, and it's so fun and nerve-wracking watching them do so. I really enjoyed these characters and their stories. I feel this YA novel is best for middle school/junior high readers. Though it features older characters, it is light and playful, without delving too much into their inner machinations or the subtleties of Victorian London. This was a 4 star read for me and I really loved it. My thanks to XPresso Book Tours, Swoon Reads, NetGalley, and the author for sharing this book with me in exchange for my honest review.

It's almost summer in 1851, and twins Mariah and Sophie Carter are insistent on going to London. Only, their aunt will only take one of them for the summer. So, naturally, they both go as "Sophie", all so that Mariah can study paintings and Sophie can marvel at the Great Exhibition at the Crystal Palace that Queen Victoria is putting on. All goes according to plan until both girls, as "Sophie," catch the eye of different gentlemen, and then it becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain the ruse as the girls make every attempt to not be caught. This summer is a singular opportunity for the sisters to strike out on a new path in their life, and they plan to make the most of it, while everybody around them wonders just what's going on with the unique, chimeric "Sophie."⁣
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I loved the independence and uniqueness of these twins as they flit about London looking to grow into their own and embrace knowledge, potential, and fun. The historical details were engaging and entertaining, and I was on the edge of my seat wondering if or when these girls would be caught in the act of pretending to be just one person. This book was light, warm, and wholesome, and reminded me tremendously of Jane Austen and her works, though this story is fully Samantha Hastings, and I'm glad I was able to walk on the cobblestone with Mariah and Sophie for a little while. If you're looking for a refreshing book about sisterhood, personal adventure, and a touch of flirtatious romance, The Invention of Sophie Carter must surely catch your eye, and fans of the Victorian Era will surely be able to quench their thirst on this one.

4.5⭐/5

This book was such a sweet, hopeful, and heartfelt read. The sort of perfect pick me up after a year that's been rather rough, to put it mildly. The heroine(s) are fantastic and this is a 100% vibe of Jane Austen meets The Parent Trap.

Once more Hastings has me within the first few pages, her style is effortless and the characters modern enough to relate to while regaling us all in a historical time period. Hastings has also proven herself to be an auto-buy Author for me after hitting it out of the park with 'The Last Word' her first novel and now this sophomore novel.

I'll be having a full review up on Tuesday as part of the blog tour for this fantastic read. 4.5 cups of coffee from me, and thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for an eARC of this in exchange for my honest review.

I seriously loved this book. I started it late at might and couldn’t put it down. Finally I couldn’t keep my eyes open so I had to quit at 4 am! As soon as I woke up I picked it right back up and finished it. It was that good! I loved the twist of the identical twins and I loved how positive the whole book was even though there were sad parts. Such a fun and original book.

The inventions of Sophie Carter, this book was such a cute read. Two sister pretending to be one to get out of a life they didn’t deserve. The relationship between the sisters, was my favorite part besides the romance. Sophie in particular was very out spoken and told it like it is, that is me on a deep level. Her sister, Mariah was more like my sister, sweet and emotional but feisty when it comes to her sister. I related to them in my relationship with my sister. Which makes this book even more enjoyable for me.

The Romance was the second part of the book that I really liked, these two gentlemen think they are in love with Sophie Carter and while one is to be true with recipercated feelings, on the other hand gentleman number two is in love with the sister who he believes to be Sophie Carter. The back and forth and the risk of being found out was so fun to read about. And the side characters also added to the story, I was really invested in the story. I liked the growth we saw in both sisters and the love that connected them every step of the way. I highly recommend this book!

Identical twins Sophie and Mariah have been orphaned and passed around to various homes throughout the years, but now their aunt in London has agreed for one of them to come visit and stay with her. But neither twin wants to go without the other, so they decide to both go and take turns pretending to be Sophie. But of course, this isn't always as easy as they thought it would be...especially when each twin starts falling in love and the men in love with them don't know there are actually two of them!

This was a cute story to read with a fun Victorian setting, and I loved how each of the twins were different and had their own interests. Sophie's interest in clocks was especially fun! And on the whole, this was a nice light and fluffy read that was quite enjoyable.

I would say that it felt very young YA or even middle grade in parts, and I found some sections of the writing a bit stilted at times. And even though I enjoy light reads, I did find myself wishing that the book went a little deeper rather than leaving everything to turn out well with a little good luck and a few improbable events. That being said, I still definitely enjoyed reading this and found many moments that made me smile!

This is definitely a Swoon Reads book: very light and frothy and full of shenanigans, slightly awkward writing (a reference to "her ten-year-old twin" on practically the first page that I kept rereading to try to figure out why it would be phrased that way) and not a ton of character development. Lots of coincidences (each twin meets the perfect man for her within about five minutes of arriving in London), very little tension, and what feels like a Victorian period sheen that wouldn't quite hold up to scrutiny, but easily readable historical fiction for young adults - or even middle graders looking for it.

Ever since Samantha Hastings talked about this book at her book launch for The Last Word, I've been sooo excited to read this book! Twin hijinks are my favorite! And you know my love for sister stories ;)

Lasting Impressions

Sophie and Mariah could not be more unlike each other. Sophie is inventive, strong-willed, and fiery in nature while Mariah is quiet, creative in the arts, and empathetic to all those around her. Yet they both wish to be free of their past of hurt and neglect by people who were supposed to love them. As they work together and work around each other to fulfill their desires, they come across difficulties but also discover their strengths. I especially loved watching Mariah step outside her sister's shadow as she realized she wanted to become her own independent person.

While the sister story is a huge focus in this book, the romance does not take a back seat (in fact, I felt Samantha did a great job of balancing both aspects of the novel). Each twin meets a man who complements them in a way that the twin does not, which made for some hilarious mix-ups among the couples. I loved Ethan's support of Sophie's passions, and I appreciated Charles's patience and interest with Mariah, as well as how he struggled to realize what he wanted in life.

Not only are the main characters and their love interests fleshed out, but the more minor ones are as well. The twins' long-lost aunt has her own motivations that seem unclear at first are revealed later on. The female competition doesn't lean into old stereotypes but becomes good friends with both of the twins.

The depth of the characterization is not the only thing going for this book. It's also hilarious, with many laugh-out-loud moments as the twins try to dupe everyone into thinking they're the same person. The author's writing also immerses you quite well into 1850s London with excellent details, though with its fast pace, the book doesn't take too long to dwell on particulars. It has the exact right amount of balance.

Overall Thoughts
Once I began this book, I couldn't put it down! Frankly, The Invention of Sophie Carter is addicting in the best way. I can't wait to read more of Samantha's work.

A very cute and sweet romance story. I really enjoyed the plot! Twin sister shenanigans, sweet suitors, and pursuing your own journey in life all bundled into one cute story! Between Sophie and Mariah, I’d have to say Sophie was my favorite. Sophie and Ethan were just too sweet and I adored every interaction between them. I really enjoyed the story and it left me feeling warm and happy! An overall sweet romance story!

The Invention of Sophie Carter is a lovely and fun YA novel by Samantha Hastings. Set in the summer of 1851, a pair of identical twins, Sophie and Mariah, travel to London to live with their wealthy aunt. The catch however is that only Sophie has actually been invited, so she concocts a scheme where Mariah poses as her half the time. Even as they pose as one person, they learn more about themselves and their own desires in life.

Both sisters have great characterizations, and so do their love interests. It's a light read and fairly quick, so it makes for an enjoyable time overall. My only real nitpick is that there was some anachronistic language, but I feel like it didn't detract that much from the story for me.

I recommend this to teens who love historical romance, but also New Adults as well. Lovely read!

4 stars

Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Swoon Reads, and NetGalley for this copy, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was so much fun. I loved the setting of historical London. It was fast paced and adorable. It was so fun seeing how Sophie and Mariah had to navigate between who was in the house and who wasn't. I was worried on more than one occasion that they'd be caught..

I also liked how different the girls were from one another. I liked how important Mariah's love for art and Sophie's love for invention were a big part of the story. Samantha did a really good job of giving each of them their own identities and even though they got jealous of each other sometimes, sisterly love always won out in the end. I'm so close to my sister so reading a story about the love between sisters always makes my heart melt.

Then there was Ethan and Charles. They were both so handsome and gentlemanly. I am glad they each had their own love interest and that even they were different. Ethan was always so supportive of Sophie's love for inventions and Charles leaving books for Mariah in the library that he thought she should read was the sweetest!

Overall I loved this and I will read, and recommend, Samantha's books as much as possible!

Netgalley provided me with a copy of the very sweet The Invention of Sophie Carter by Samantha Hastings in exchange for an honest review. The novel follows the story of Sophie and Mariah Carter, identical twins in Victorian England who are trying to make the best of their orphaned situation after being sent away from their foster parents. Sophie, who has an avid interest in mechanics, devises a plan for her and her sister to stay with their estranged aunt in London; the only hitch in the plan is that their aunt will only accept one sister into her home. Soon, a twin-switching plan rivaling The Parent Trap is born, allowing Sophie and Mariah to each pursue their own London interests. Victorian-era manners, balls, and flirting ensue, reminding readers of an entry into the world of Jane Austen and her ilk.

While the plotline itself wasn’t explosive (there are no major twists or hangups that the girls can’t solve with a little time and good fortune), The Invention of Sophie Carter succeeds as a novel of manners and does boast several nuanced thoughts about the nature of love and the role of women in a rapidly industrializing society. For example, Mariah comments about disliking both Mr. Rochester and SinJin for Jane Eyre, saying “I didn’t like that Jane’s options seemed so narrow. I would have preferred that she went to a larger city and found a nice young man who was honest, kind, and loved her.”

In the end, this book was sweet, if a little predictable. For fans of Downton Abbey or The Hired Girl; libraries should purchase where PG YA is in demand.

OK, so The Invention of Sophie Carter neglects to follow the rules of Victorian etiquette, but I DON’T CARE, IT’S JUST DELIGHTFUL. Sophie and her twin sister Mariah have one season to catch a husband and escape from poverty, but their stuffy aunt will only have one of them to stay at her London house. That doesn’t stop the twins, who take turns playing “Miss Sophie” about town. The real Sophie, who dreams of being an inventor and can’t wait to visit the marvels of the Crystal Palace, and Mariah, who loves books and painting, make an impression on staid London society. Like any Victorian-ish novel, we know it’s going to end with everybody happily married, but it’s still fun to watch the antics as Sophie and Mariah accidentally make their would-be suitors’ lives utterly confusing and meet up with some of the who’s who of the Victorian world. (I’m not convinced Ruskin would have been such a feminist, BUT THAT’S NOT THE POINT.) Highly recommended if you are in the mood for a little light and fluffy YA romance.

This was such a cute and creative story! I love seeing Victorian romance in YA, and the premise of this one was very clever. I loved both characters of Mariah and Sophie and seeing their sisterly bond, as well as how that relationship changed over time. Each of their love interests were perfect for them, and it was fun to see their career ambitions develop and the way those ambitions were supported by some of the people in their lives despite societal expectations that women shouldn't have careers. I like Hastings' writing style and quick pacing that kept me engaged start to finish. Hoping for more YA like this in the future!

Samantha Hasting is two for two with interesting premises + sweet romances. I was immediately drawn to The Invention of Sophie Carter, mostly because of a trifecta of great title, cover, and premise. Dating back to watching Full House as a kid, I was blown away by the idea of two actors trading off playing a single Michelle Tanner. Ever since, I've loved the "twins changing places" or "twins pretending to be one girl" trope. I enjoyed how Hastings brought it to life in her sophomore novel, and I look forward to more books from the author.